DBX Dealer Presentation

4.0 V8 twin turbo uprated to 550ps. 9 speed auto. Performance stats not nailed down - 0.60 in 4.5secs or less – top speed 175mph +. All wheel drive with the ability to feed 100% of power to the rear. It is essentially rear-wheel drive bias most of the time, feeding power to the front as is required

. Runs a rear e-diff. Triple air suspension – the highest spec suspension in comparison to anything on the market. I'm know this is a good set up but unclear exactly why as yet. I can tell you that it is one better than double air suspension though!. Highest grade of active anti-roll system. Will have a wafty comfortable suspension mode up to a pretty hardcore setting. Largest brakes (steel) ever fitted to an Aston Martin. Ceramics were avoided because they don’t mix well with mud/grit etc. Weight distribution – 54:46. Can tow 2.7 tonnes (tow bar will be an option)

I don't know what triple air suspension is - but it sounds good as air on these beasts is a very good thing for ride quality (esp on 22"s). My Macan on (single?) air sus and huge rubber on 21" wheels gives an excellent ride - far better than the Rapide I'm sad to say. 9 gears to paddle through though

It'll be something to do with emissions etc. Won't matter anyway. 99% of these will be driven in Auto 99% of the time and the driver will neither know nor care what gear they are in.

Mercedes-Benz cars have gradually increased the number of gears in their auto (torque converter I think) boxes.

My understanding of the reason, is that when they were fitting 5 speed boxes, you could very slightly feel the jolt of the gear changes.With more gears each ratio is closer to the adjacent ones, so any feeling of each gearchange is almost imperceptable.

It'll be something to do with emissions etc. Won't matter anyway. 99% of these will be driven in Auto 99% of the time and the driver will neither know nor care what gear they are in.

Mercedes-Benz cars have gradually increased the number of gears in their auto (torque converter I think) boxes.

My understanding of the reason, is that when they were fitting 5 speed boxes, you could very slightly feel the jolt of the gear changes.With more gears each ratio is closer to the adjacent ones, so any feeling of each gearchange is almost imperceptable.

Pete I think you're right. Even 7 gears (DBSs) on the paddles is plenty. The DBX far less likely to be driven on the paddles, I include myself.

The Rapide has 6 and I always drive it on the paddles unless in stop start traffic. No one know which gear to to be in better than me

I have given up doing manual on the missus 8 speed car though and 9 gears would break my heart! 6 gears are perfect for a linear majestic V12! Drive is too lazy for the econ figures and Sport just never knows what I want - assumes I'm about to overtake all the time!

More gears! I fancy a comedy skit where the driver is constantly shifting up or down the whole trip to the store and back. Won't have time to mess with his/her Apple or Android. Pulls up to the store covered in sweat as the Tesla driver steps out cool and refreshed.

Can the insiders comment on the gear box, specifically the supplier, please?According to my very limited knowledge ZF is producing the 9-speed box for the RR Evoque - which is a front transverse application, not compatible with a longitudinal V8-engine. Therefore the guess is that AML is buying engine and gear box from Mercedes. Mercedes is combining its proprietary 9-speed MCT-box with the AMG-V8 in several cars (AMG GLC 63, AMG GT 63S, AMG E 63). In this gear box a multi-clutch-pack replaces a conventional torque-converter, enabling faster shifting times, less weight and computer controlled shifting strategies as well as launch control. This multi-clutch-pack auto-box should not be confused with a dual-clutch-two-drive-shaft-box (Porsche 911 and Cayman) or with a two-plate-clutch (V12VS). The MCT is simply an advanced auto-box in which a computer controlled multi-clutch-pack replaces a conventional torque-converter - therefore very suitable for a SUV or other high torque applications. So, is that one coming from Mercedes?

Was in Porsche Bristol yesterday and 75% of the cars in the showroom were SUV's of various guises. If the DBX is as good as say the Macan and can justify its price then it may have a chance. Shame as i do like the DBX looks of what i have seen but would not want to see the nearest AM dealer full of DBX's with the more sportier relegated to online or back of the dealers. One thing i did notice in AM Bristol down the road from Porsche was lack of 2nd hand "old school" Vantages compared to new-kid-on-the-block ones. Aside from the handful of GT8/12's there was not too many 4.7/4.3's

Can the insiders comment on the gear box, specifically the supplier, please?According to my very limited knowledge ZF is producing the 9-speed box for the RR Evoque - which is a front transverse application, not compatible with a longitudinal V8-engine. Therefore the guess is that AML is buying engine and gear box from Mercedes. Mercedes is combining its proprietary 9-speed MCT-box with the AMG-V8 in several cars (AMG GLC 63, AMG GT 63S, AMG E 63). In this gear box a multi-clutch-pack replaces a conventional torque-converter, enabling faster shifting times, less weight and computer controlled shifting strategies as well as launch control. This multi-clutch-pack auto-box should not be confused with a dual-clutch-two-drive-shaft-box (Porsche 911 and Cayman) or with a two-plate-clutch (V12VS). The MCT is simply an advanced auto-box in which a computer controlled multi-clutch-pack replaces a conventional torque-converter - therefore very suitable for a SUV or other high torque applications. So, is that one coming from Mercedes?

I have no insider knowledge but my immediate assumption was that it would be the Mercedes 9-speed box. I'm sure the original agreement with Mercedes was for use of engines, gearboxes and electrical tech. Which made the decision to use a slush box in the Vantage rather than a Merc Dual Clutch box somewhat odd as however good the ZF 8-speed is, most people would expect a full on sports car to have a Dual Clutch rather than a slush box.

The Mercedes dual clutch box cannot handle the torque of the V12 in the DB11. And less so in the DBS. Therefore the new generation cars DB11 and DBS had to start with an automatic box. The ZF boxes are suitable for transaxle setup. And AML has a long experience with the ZF boxes in the Vanquish, Rapide, DB9 and certainly want to minimize the technical variants in their products and work shops?Since the Vantage is a derivative of the DB11 it needs to have the same gear box. It simply developed this path...

Since the Vantage is a derivative of the DB11 it needs to have the same gear box.

I don't think AML would describe the Vantage as a derivative of the DB11. It shares a "platform" but that doesn't mean it has to have the same gearbox. It shares an engine and layout with the AMG GT and could have shared its gearbox which is a DCT. Yes, using the same gearbox as the DB11 is the cheaper option but the Vantage is hardly a cheap car.

My understanding of the reason, is that when they were fitting 5 speed boxes, you could very slightly feel the jolt of the gear changes.With more gears each ratio is closer to the adjacent ones, so any feeling of each gearchange is almost imperceptable.